Universal joint and cover



Jan. 15, 1935. 5, GODDARD r 1,987,678

UNIVERSAL JOINT AND COVER Filed March 18, 1935 INVENTO Paul ,5. Goddar ELflm ORNEYS.

Patented Jan. '15, 1935 I t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNIVERSAL JOINT AND COVER Paul a. Goddard and milk Ketcham, Deal-born, Mich assignors to UnlversalPl-oducts Co. Inc., a corporation of Delaware Application March 18, 1933, Serial No. 661,444

1 Claim; (Cl. 64-103) This invention relates to universal joints. pression spring. The proper amount of, suitable The main objects of this invention are to prolubricant may be placed into the universal joint vide an improved assembly of joint in which the housing at the time of its manufacture and component parts are permanently retained withassembly and the spring properly positioned a in the housing; to provide an improved cover therein so that the propeller shaft assembly with which seals lubricant within the joint, excludes 'ioints t e on m y each e automobile dust and dirt prior to final assembly on the ve- ,sembly line as a single complete unit ready for hicle, and which serves as a spring seat for holdbolting to the respective companion flanges of ing the base of the spring in definite position. the transmission shaft and axle pinion shaft. An illustrative embodiment of this invention In the construction shown in the drawing, a 0 is shown in the accompanying drawing, in tubular propeller shaft 8 is provided at its .op-' whichzposite ends with universal joints of the character Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of shown and described in detail in the copending a propeller shaft assembly embodying the im- U. S. application for patent of Archibald A. proved invention. Y Warner, Serial No. 637,615, filed October 13, 15

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on 2, n w mat d int Pa nt N m er 1, 74 the line 2-2 of Fig.1 looking in the direction issued October 13, 1933. indicated by the arrows. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, the Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line i int mprises nerally a shan 9 havi a 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated head'10 which is provided with a bore disposed 20 by the arrows. perpendicular to the axis of the shank 9 for Fig. 4 is a plane or face view of the improved receiving a transversely disposed pin 11. The closure plate or cap. opposite ends of the pin 11 project equal dis- Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the helical spiral tances at opposite sides of the head 10 thus pro spring used in conjunction with the cover plate. viding trunnions 12 upon which are journaled 25 Fig. 6 is a top plane view of the same. truncated balls 13 by means of roller bearings 14. Heretofore in the manufacture and assembly The ends of the trunnions 12 are each provided of universal joints of the character herein shown with an axial bore for receiving the shank of an and described, it has been customary to furnish .end thrust member or cap 15 which bears radially so the propeller shaft assemblies with universal a ainst th h using 16 f r nte ing th int. joints at the respective ends thereof to the auto- The truncated balls 13 are snugly embraced in mobile manufacturers assembly line with no pertubular bores formed in the housing 16 in spaced manent closure on that end of the housings of parallel relation to the axis of the housing. the universal joints which abut against and are The shank 9 extends into one end of the houssecured to companion flanges of the drive shafting an e ODIJOSite end thereof terminates in a 35 ing, radially extending annular flange 17 which is Such procedure necessitated introduction of adapted to be secured to a compani n n e 18 a proper amount of suitable lubricant into the by bolts or the like 19. universal joint housings at the time of final as- A cover plate 20, which is provided with a plu- 40 sembly into the automobile, and furthermore it e y adi y extending t 21iSDe1manent1Y 40 required introduction of the compression spring secured to the flanged end of the housing 16 by into the housing at the time of final assembly. bending the tabs 21 over the flange 17 of the This practice resulted in occasional failures to housin The fla e is cut ac in st y with put lubricant into the housing at the time of the tabs a distance equal to the thickness thereof final assembly and the work of joining up the so that when the tabs are bent around the flange 45 propeller shaft to the companion flanges on the no portion thereof will Project ye d e extransmission shaft and axle pinion shaft respectend d c u e ce of the lan e. This retively was materially slowed up by the 'difliculty eeflsing 9 the a s Permits the housing to be asthe assembly man had in placing the compressembled into the annular recessed seat of the sion spring in position. Y companion flange 18, thus insuring correct cen- 50 In the present construction, the flanged end ring of the J in of the universal joint housing is provided with The cover plate 21 is provided with a concena permanent cover plate with a gasket intertrically disposed annular groove or seat 22 which posed for sealing the housing and at the same receives and holds in position the large end of a time providing a permanent seat for the comhelical piral sprin 2 the h r e of which 55 the groove 22 of cover plate 20, and then the cover plate'is positioned against the flange 1'! with the gasket 25 interposed therebetween. The tabs 21 are then bent around the flange 1'], as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing, thus permanently closing the flanged end of the housing and providing a seat for the large end of the spring 23.

This permanent closure seals in the lubricant and excludes dust and dirt prior to final assembly on an automobile. Such a construction provides a unitary assembly which may be readily placed in position against its companion flanges and bolted thereto on the assembly line without the assembly workmen bothering with the insertion of lubricant, springs or other loose parts.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and described, it will be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing rrom the spirit of this invention as defined by the following claim.

We claim:

In a universal joint, a housing having an open end surrounded by a radially extending attaching flange, a cover plate substantially co-extensive with said flanged end, and aplurality of tabs on said plate for engaging said housing flange, said flange being recessed in registry with and to a depth substantially equal to the thickness of said tabs.

PAUL B. GODDARD. FRANK KETCHAM. 

